Testování aeroponického systému za účelem pěstování rostlin na Marsu

Bc. Jan Řeháček

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The aim of this diploma thesis was testing of a specific design of vertical aeroponic system that was previously constructed at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague as a part of the Marsonaut project. The goal of the Marsonaut project was to research the possibilities of growing plants in the system and its potential use on the planet Mars. Within the scope of the experiment a growth test of lettuce was performed in the aeroponic unit in question. The objective was to verify whether this specific design of an aeroponic unit is suitable for growing lettuce. The seedlings of lettuce were pre-grown in an incubator for 10 days, then we noted the weight and number of leaves of each plant. Afterwards the seedlings were transplanted into two identical aeroponic units with identical conditions. There were 24 plants in each unit. The nutrition for the plants was supplied by a nutrient solution containing a two component hydroponic fertilizer combined with a micronutrient-rich hydroponic fertilizer. The roots of the plants were sprayed with this solution periodically. Technical issues with one of the aeroponic units forced us to replant all the plants into one unit after 9 days of the experiment. All the plants were harvested after 23 days, their weight and number of leaves were noted and they were dried for 48 hours at a temperature of 70 ºC. After that the dry weight of roots and shoots was noted. The growth data were statistically evaluated. The difference between the growth of the two groups of plants was not statistically significant. Compared to other studies, the yield of lettuce was very low in our case which was probably caused by the technical properties of this aeroponic system. The plants were positioned in the units in an unnatural way and the duration of nutrient solution spraying was very short compared to the other studies. Based on the comparison we came to the conclusion that this design of an aeroponic system is not suitable for growing lettuce. Given the low yield and very difficult maintenance, the prospect of using this system on planet Mars is very improbable. Based on the information and experience gathered during our experiment, the aeroponic system has been rebuilt to a horizontal version recently.

Keywords

alternative production systems, hydroponics, aeroponics, nutrient solution, lettuce

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 26. 4. 2021

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: prof. Ing. Lukáš Kalous, Ph.D.
• Reader: Vítězslav Krček, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

Master programme / field:
Organic Farming / Organic Farming